Has anyone tried this product?
According to the U of A site, the stuff increases the plants' hardiness by 2 to 9 degrees which in some cases may be sufficient to protect the plant. You would have to try it on Brugs to see what effect FreezePruf has on them. I'm in zone 8b also. The lowest the temperature got here this past winter was 25ºF. FreezePruf would have to provide 8º of protection for the one Brug I have planted in the ground. Anything less than that and the top of my Brug would be toast.
http://uanews.ua.edu/anews2008/jul08/spray070808.htm
http://www.lgrmag.com/FreezePruf-Wins-Award-at-IGC-Show-NewsPiece19057
bettydee,
Thank you for responding. Do you dig up the one you have in the ground? If not, maybe you could use the FreezePruf and take additional measures to protect on the coldest of days. I might try this to see if it is good.
I used a similar product called "Cloud Cover" with good results. Our freezes usually aren't real heavy though. The product just gave it the ability to survive the few hours it happens here.
I'm tempted to try it. I got tired of running out just before a freeze to wrap the three I had in the ground with burlap and bubble wrap. Then run out to remove the bubble wrap if we had a hot spell. All 3 died down to the ground anyway. The two small Jamies died completely.
The high winds that accompany a front were my biggest enemy. I discovered tape (I used 3 different types.) looses its ability to hold things together in temperatures below 32ºF. I was trying to wrap the entire plant.
I was thinking of wrapping individual trunks and the '"Y"s, leaving the wrap on all winter and spraying the rest with the Freeze-Pruf. I have a back up plant of Audrey Hepburn in a pot so I feel OK about experimenting with the one in the ground.
Tami, I don't plan to dig the Brug out. I planted in the ground because the root system had outgrown a 24" pot.
Maybe somebody should have a Freeze-pruf co-op. :)
Betty,
Would it work to use some sort of cord to tie around them to hold it in place?
I had plenty of opportunity to experiment last winter since I would be willing to swear that we had more freezing episodes that we've had in the last few years. By the time I got around to using nylon cording, much of the damage had already occurred. I was afraid the Brugs would fry under the bubble wrap if I left it on all winter long so I kept taking it off and putting it back on. I've ordered the Freeze-Pruf and will spray the entire plant, wait until it dries then wrap the trunks and "Y"s. Then will follow directions for spraying the rest of the Brug at the recommended rate and will see what happens.
I won't have the time this coming winter to spend that much time on wrapping and re-wrapping a Brug. I'll have a bunch of cows to feed on my own.
One of the discoveries I made was velcro. I have a climbing rose banknii that is constantly growing new branches so I would have to retye the new branches with its older vines. I was using that plastic green stuff that stretches...I bought the velcro at fred meyers in their gardening area. Some nurseries have them too. It's green and its so easy to unwrap the velcro put in the new branches then zip up the velcro.
I was planning on using the velcro when I start to cover up the bananas and my bruggies later this month. I am hoping that it won't be a problem if and when it freezes, snow, etc.....